Hair care appliance

Abstract

A hair care appliance includes an air inlet, an air outlet, and a passage between the air inlet and the air outlet. The hair care appliance comprises: an air flow generator for generating an air flow through a channel from an air inlet to an air outlet; and a flow divider configured to divide the airflow through the channel into a first airflow portion and a second airflow portion. The hair care appliance includes an obturator located upstream of the air outlet within the channel, the obturator being movable between a first position within the channel and a second position different from the first position within the channel. The hair care appliance is configured to cause recombination of the first and second airflow portions downstream of the closure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair care appliance. Background Art

[0002] Hair care appliances are generally used to treat or style hair, and some hair care appliances can use airflow and / or heat to treat or style hair. Hair care appliances can be used to treat or style hair in a variety of different ways, and some hair care appliances include different attachments to provide different treatment or styling functions. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair care appliance, comprising: an air inlet; an air outlet; a channel located between the air inlet and the air outlet; an air flow generator for generating an air flow from the air inlet through the channel to the air outlet; a flow splitter configured to divide the air flow through the channel into a first air flow portion and a second air flow portion; and an occlusion member located upstream of the air outlet in the channel, the occlusion member being movable between a first position in the channel and a second position in the channel different from the first position in the channel; wherein the hair care appliance is configured to cause a recombination of the first air flow portion and the second air flow portion downstream of the occlusion member.

[0004] The use of a flow splitter and an occluder can provide different characteristics to the first and second airflow portions within the channel, for example, a greater degree of airflow through the first portion of the channel than through the second portion of the channel, while recombining the first and second airflow portions can cause the airflow at the air outlet to be directed in a particular direction based on the position of the occluder. For example, when the first airflow portion is weaker than the second airflow portion, the second airflow portion can determine the direction of the airflow from the air outlet. Thus, moving the occluder within the channel can cause the direction of the airflow from the air outlet to change without the user having to change the position of the hair care appliance relative to the hair. Moving the occluder within the channel can also provide a changing direction for the airflow at the air outlet, which can help separate the hair and reduce hair drying time, wherein the hair care appliance includes a heater for heating the airflow through the channel.

[0005] The portion of the channel located downstream of the obturator, intermediate the flow splitter and the air outlet, can be shaped to cause the first airflow portion and the second airflow portion located downstream of the obturator to recombine. Shaping the channel can provide a relatively simple method to recombine the airflow portion downstream of the obturator.

[0006] This part of the channel may converge towards the air outlet. This may result in a recombination of the air flow parts and enable the hair care appliance to provide a concentrator function.

[0007] The hair care appliance may comprise a recombination surface located downstream of the occlusion member in the passage, the recombination surface being positioned to cause recombination of the first airflow portion and the second airflow portion located downstream of the occlusion member. This may provide a relatively simple method of recombination of the airflow portions downstream of the occlusion member. The recombination surface may be symmetrical about a centre point of the passage.

[0008] The recombination surface may include a substantially convex surface. This may facilitate recombination of the airflow portions. For example, the first airflow portion and the second airflow portion may adhere to the convex surface and flow over the convex surface and then meet and separate from the convex surface via a Coanda effect. The convex surface may include a Coanda surface.

[0009] The flow splitter may be a passive flow splitter, such as an unpowered flow splitter. This may provide a relatively simple and less expensive flow splitting arrangement than, for example, an arrangement using a powered flow splitter. The flow splitter may include ribs extending across the channel.

[0010] The flow splitter may be configured to divide the airflow into no more than a first portion and a second portion. This may provide an airflow at the air outlet that effectively oscillates in a side-to-side manner, for example due to the airflow selectively flowing through the first portion of the channel to a greater extent than through the second portion of the channel, and vice versa.

[0011] The occluder can be moved between a first position, a second position, and a third position within the passage that is different from the first position and the second position, and the flow splitter can be configured to divide the airflow through the passage into first, second, and third airflow portions. This can provide a rotating airflow at the air outlet, for example, due to the airflow selectively flowing through the first, second, or third portion of the passage to a greater extent than through the other portions of the first, second, and third portions of the passage.

[0012] The occluder can be moved between a first, second and third position within the passage and a fourth position different from the first, second and third positions, and the flow splitter can be configured to divide the airflow through the passage into first, second, third and fourth airflow portions. Dividing the airflow into four such portions can be particularly effective for generating a rotating airflow at the air outlet while providing a relatively simple flow splitter within the passage.

[0013] The hair care appliance may include a first air outlet and a second air outlet, and first and second ducts extending between the air inlet and the respective first and second air outlets, the flow splitter may be configured to divide the airflow from the air inlet into a plurality of portions within each duct, and the occluder may be movable to selectively inhibit the airflow portions within the first and second ducts. This may provide an oscillating and / or rotating airflow at each of the first and second air outlets.

[0014] The obturator may be rotatable within the passage. Rotation may provide a simple movement mechanism for the obturator and may allow desired air flow characteristics to be applied to the air flow, for example enabling a rotating air flow to be generated at the air outlet by rotating the obturator.

[0015] The obturator may rotate in the passage at a rate of no more than 600 rpm, for example no more than 400 rpm. Such a rotational speed may be more effective in providing a rotating airflow at the air outlet than, for example, an arrangement in which the obturator rotates at a rate greater than 400 rpm. The obturator may rotate in the passage at a rate of no less than 200 rpm, or no less than 150 rpm, or no less than 100 rpm.

[0016] The occluder may be rotated about the central axis of the passage. This may selectively block part of the passage in a similar manner. The central axis of the passage may include a central longitudinal axis of the passage. The passage may be substantially cylindrical in form, and the central axis of the passage may include a central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical passage. The passage may be substantially annular in form, and the central axis of the passage may include an axis through a central point about which the periphery of the annular passage extends.

[0017] The movement rate of the occluder can be selected by the user of the hair care appliance. This can provide the user with control over the movement of the occluder and can provide the user with control to select the movement rate of the occluder according to the desired drying and / or styling operation to be performed by the user.

[0018] The hair care appliance may be operated in a plurality of operating modes, and the rate of movement of the occluding member may depend on the operating mode of the hair care appliance. This may impose desired characteristics on the air flow at the air outlet depending on the current or future operating mode of the hair care appliance. For example, a user may select an operating mode of the hair care appliance, and the occluding member may move within the passageway in response to such selection.

[0019] The different operating modes of the hair care appliance may include different flow rates of airflow generated by the airflow generator. The hair care appliance may include a heater for heating the airflow in the channel, and the different operating modes of the hair care appliance may include operating the heater at different temperatures.

[0020] The hair care appliance may include a drive motor configured to drive movement of the occluder within the passage. Using a drive motor to drive movement of the occluder may facilitate better control of movement compared to, for example, a passive arrangement in which movement of the occluder is driven by airflow through the passage. For example, using a drive motor may enable the occluder to be driven at a slower speed than a passive arrangement in which movement of the occluder is driven by airflow through the passage. This may facilitate providing an airflow at the air outlet having certain desired characteristics, such as a swirling airflow.

[0021] The drive motor may be located away from the central axis of the channel. This may be beneficial as it may keep the drive motor away from the air flow within the channel, for example when the channel is substantially cylindrical in form. The drive motor may be located away from the air flow within the channel, for example apart from a drive shaft driven by the drive motor. The hair care appliance may include a gear to which the occluder is attached, and the drive motor may be configured to drive movement of the gear.

[0022] The drive motor may automatically drive movement of the occluding member in response to a user selected operating mode. A controller of the hair care appliance may select an operating mode of the hair care appliance, for example in response to input from one or more sensors, and the drive motor may automatically drive movement of the occluding member in response to selection of an operating mode by the controller.

[0023] The obturator may comprise a cross-sectional area which is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the passage. This may allow part of the passage to be covered by the obturator while other parts are not covered, thereby changing the air flow characteristics at the air outlet.

[0024] The occluder may include a cross-sectional area that is approximately 50% less than the cross-sectional area of ​​the passageway, a cross-sectional area that is approximately 33% less than the cross-sectional area of ​​the passageway, or a cross-sectional area that is approximately 25% less than the cross-sectional area of ​​the passageway.

[0025] The occluder may be configured to cover no more than half of the passage at any time, no more than one-third of the passage at any time, or no more than one-quarter of the passage at any time.

[0026] The hair care appliance may include a sensor for sensing an object external to the appliance, and a control module configured to determine a property of the object based on data output by the sensor, wherein movement of the occluder within the passage is based on the determination of the property of the object. In this way, the occluder can move in response to the property of the object external to the hair care appliance, so that the air flow characteristics at the air outlet can be determined based on the property of the object external to the hair care appliance.

[0027] The property of the object may include any of the presence or absence of the object, the type of the object, the distance of the object from the hair care appliance, the temperature of the object, and the moisture content of the object. The sensor may include a time of flight sensor. The control module may control the airflow generator in response to the determination of the property of the object.

[0028] The hair care appliance may comprise a main unit comprising a cylindrical section having a central aperture, and the sensor may be located within the aperture.

[0029] The hair care appliance may comprise a main unit and an accessory releasably attachable to the main unit, and the accessory may comprise an air outlet, an occluder and a flow diverter. This enables the accessory to be retrofitted onto an existing hair care appliance comprising an air flow generator. The accessory may be configured to cause a recombination of the first air flow portion and the second air flow portion downstream of the occluder.

[0030] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an attachment for a hair care appliance, the attachment comprising: an air inlet for receiving an air flow from a main unit of the hair care appliance; an air outlet; a channel located between the air inlet and the air outlet; a splitter configured to divide the air flow through the channel into a first air flow portion and a second air flow portion; and an occluding member located upstream of the air outlet in the channel, the occluding member being movable between a first position in the channel and a second position in the channel different from the first position in the channel; and wherein the hair care appliance is configured to cause a recombination of the first air flow portion and the second air flow portion downstream of the occluding member.

[0031] Where appropriate, optional features of one aspect of the invention may be equally applied to other aspects of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a hair care appliance;

[0033] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a main unit of a hair care appliance;

[0034] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A schematic rear view of a main unit of FIG.

[0035] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an attachment for a hair care appliance;

[0036] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 a schematic exploded view of the components of the accessory;

[0037] Figure 6yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a hair care appliance when the accessory is attached to the main unit;

[0038] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an attachment for a hair care appliance;

[0039] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 a schematic exploded view of the components of the accessory;

[0040] Fig. 9 yes Figure 1 A first schematic diagram of a third embodiment of an attachment for a hair care appliance;

[0041] Fig.10 yes Fig. 9 A second schematic diagram of an attachment;

[0042] Fig.11 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a hair care appliance;

[0043] Fig.12 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a hair care appliance;

[0044] Fig.13 is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of a hair care appliance;

[0045] Fig.14 is with Fig.13 a schematic diagram of an alternative occlusive member for use with a hair care appliance; and

[0046] Fig.15 is a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of a hair care appliance. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] Figures 1 to 3 There is schematically shown a first embodiment of a hair care appliance 10. The appliance 10 comprises a main unit 12 and an accessory 14 attachable to the main unit 12.

[0048] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The main unit 12 is schematically shown alone in FIG. 1 , and includes a handle portion 18 , a head portion 20 , an airflow generator 22 , a heater 24 , user controls 26 , a control module 28 , a drive motor 30 , and a drive shaft 31 .

[0049] The handle portion 18 is generally cylindrical and hollow in form and houses the air flow generator 22. The handle portion 18 has an air inlet 32 ​​in the form of a plurality of perforations located at a first end 34 of the handle portion 18.

[0050] The head portion 20 is generally cylindrical and hollow in form and is disposed at the second end 36 of the handle portion 18, with the central axis of the head portion 20 being orthogonal to the central axis of the handle portion 18, so that the main unit 12 is generally T-shaped. The head portion 20 houses the heater 24, the control module 28, the drive motor 30, and the drive shaft 31. The head portion 20 includes a hole 38 through which air is entrained, and a flow path 40 toward an air outlet 42. The air outlet 42 is generally in the form of an annular ring around the periphery of the hole 38. The head portion 20 also includes an annular magnet (not shown) for releasably connecting the handle unit 12 to the accessory 14. The annular magnet extends annularly around the air outlet 42.

[0051] User controls 26 are provided on both the handle portion 18 and the head portion 20 and include a first button 44 or slider to turn the appliance 10 on and off, a second button 46 to temporarily turn off the heater 24 so that the appliance 10 delivers a cool air injection, a third button 48 to control the flow rate of the airflow, and a fourth button 50 to control the temperature of the airflow.

[0052] The control module 28 is responsible for controlling the airflow generator 22, the heater 24, and the drive motor 30 in response to input from the user control 26. For example, in response to input from the user control 26, the control module 28 can turn the airflow generator 22 and / or the heater 24 on or off. Additionally, the control module 28 can control the power or speed of the airflow generator 22 to change the flow rate of the airflow. For example, repeatedly pressing the third button 48 can cause the control module 28 to cycle through different flow rates (e.g., low, medium, and high). Similarly, the control module 28 can control the power of the heater 24 to change the temperature of the airflow. For example, repeatedly pressing the fourth button 50 can cause the control module 28 to cycle through different temperature settings (e.g., cold, warm, hot).

[0053] The control module 28 also controls the drive motor 30 in response to input from the user controls 26 , as will be discussed in greater detail below.

[0054] The drive motor 30 is located in the head portion and is capable of driving a load at a rate in the range of 200-600 rpm. The drive motor comprises any suitable motor, whether a brushed motor or a brushless motor, for applying a rotational force to the drive shaft 31. The drive shaft 31 is coupled to the output of the drive motor 30 and comprises a first shaft portion 52, which is coupled to a second shaft portion 54 by a connecting rod 56.

[0055] The first shaft portion 52 extends obliquely relative to the wall of the hole 38 towards the central longitudinal axis of the hole 38. The second shaft portion 54 extends substantially coaxially with the central longitudinal axis of the hole 38 towards the end 58 of the hole 38. The end of the second shaft portion 54 in the region of the end 58 of the hole 38 has a connection mechanism (not shown) for connecting to the accessory 14. The connecting rod 56 comprises any suitable connecting rod for transmitting rotational movement from the first shaft portion 52 to the second shaft portion 54 in use.

[0056] Figure 4-5 The attachment 14 is schematically shown.

[0057] The accessory 14 includes a housing 60 defining an air inlet 62 and an air outlet 64 , a passage 66 , an obturator 68 , a flow divider 70 , and a recombination surface 72 .

[0058] The housing 60 is generally of frustoconical form and tapers toward the air outlet 64. Thus, the accessory 14 may be considered a concentrator accessory. The air inlet 62 is substantially annular in form and is positioned on the accessory 14 such that when the accessory 14 is attached to the main unit 12, the air inlet 62 of the accessory overlies and is in fluid communication with the air outlet 42 of the main unit 12. The cross-sectional shape of the air outlet 64 is substantially circular in form and is located at the end of the housing 60 opposite the air inlet 62.

[0059] The passage 66 is located inside the housing 60 and extends between the air inlet 62 and the air outlet 64. The obturator 68 is located in the passage 66 downstream of the air inlet 62. The obturator 68 includes a connecting portion 74, four arms 76, an annular outer portion 78 and a blocking member 80.

[0060] The connecting portion 74 is annular in form and is shaped and dimensioned to engage with the connecting mechanism of the second shaft portion 54. The connecting portion 74 is substantially concentric with the central longitudinal axis of the passage 66. Four arms 76 are evenly spaced around the circumference of the connecting portion 74 and extend radially between the connecting portion 74 and the annular outer portion 78. The blocking member 80 is substantially solid in form and fills the space between two of the four arms 76, the connecting portion 74 and the annular outer portion 78.

[0061] The flow divider 70 is located downstream of the obturator 68 in the channel 66. The flow divider 70 comprises four ribs 82 which are evenly spaced around the channel 66 and divide the channel 66 into sub-channels 84. The spacing between the ribs 82 corresponds substantially to the circumferential extent of the blocking member 80.

[0062] Downstream of the flow divider 70, a recombination surface 72 is located partly in the passage 66 and partly in the air outlet 64. The recombination surface 72 comprises the outer surface of a spherical ball disposed substantially in the center of the passage 66.

[0063] In use, the accessory 14 is attached to the main unit 12, such as Figure 6 The user can use the user controls 26 to set the flow and / or heating settings, such as the operating mode, of the hair care appliance 10, and the control module 28 controls the airflow generator 22, the heater 24, and the drive motor 30 accordingly. It should be understood that while the user controls 26 of the first embodiment of the hair care appliance 10 are not described, other embodiments may have specific user controls for the drive motor as part of the user controls 26.

[0064] In response to operation of the air flow generator 22, air is drawn through the air inlet 32 ​​along the handle portion 18 toward the head portion 20. The air flows through the flow path 42, through the heater 24, and toward the air outlet 42. The air exits the main unit 12 through the air outlet 42 and enters the accessory 14 via the air inlet 62. From the air inlet 62, the air flows through the channel 66 toward the air outlet 64.

[0065] At the same time, the drive motor 30 applies a rotational force or torque to the drive shaft 31, thereby causing the rotation of the drive shaft 31. The rotation of the drive shaft 31 causes the obturator 68 to rotate within the channel 66, and in particular, causes the blocking member 80 to rotate within the channel 66. Therefore, the blocking member selectively and sequentially blocks areas of the channel 66 in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner depending on the direction of rotation, so that the airflow in certain portions of the channel 66 is stronger.

[0066] The flow divider 70 divides the airflow downstream of the obturator 68 into flows within the subchannels 84. Due to the rotation of the obstruction member 80, the airflow within each subchannel 84 varies over time or has a variable intensity over time. The recombination surface 72 effectively acts as a Coanda surface, and the airflow from the subchannels 84 adheres to the recombination surface 72. The airflow from the subchannels 84 flows over the recombination surface 72 and collides and recombine in the area of ​​the air outlet 64.

[0067] Given that the airflow through the sub-channels 84 has different strengths at any given time, the recombined airflow is directed in a particular direction from the air outlet 64. When the occluder 68, and therefore the blocking member 80, is rotatably driven within the channel 66 by the drive motor 30, the relative strength of the airflow within the sub-channel 84 changes as the blocking member 80 rotates. This means that the airflow at the air outlet 64 of the accessory 14 is directed in different directions as the occluder 68 rotates. In effect, this creates a rotating or swirling airflow at the air outlet 64.

[0068] This can facilitate drying and / or styling of hair, such as increasing hair separation with a swirling airflow, thereby reducing hair drying time. Using a drive motor 30 to drive the movement of the occluder 68 can facilitate better control of the movement than, for example, a passive arrangement in which the movement of the occluder 68 is driven by airflow through the passage 66. For example, using a drive motor 30 can allow the occluder 68 to be driven at a slower speed than a passive arrangement in which the movement of the occluder 68 is driven by airflow through the passage 66. This can facilitate providing an airflow at the air outlet 64 having certain desired characteristics, such as a swirling airflow.

[0069] Figures 7 and 8 An alternative embodiment of an accessory 100 for use with the main unit 12 of the first embodiment 10 of a hair care appliance is schematically shown.

[0070] The accessory 100 includes a housing 102 defining an air inlet 104 and an air outlet 106 , a passage 108 , a blocker 110 , a flow diverter 112 , and a recombination surface 114 .

[0071] The housing 102 tapers toward the air outlet 106. Thus, the accessory 100 may be considered a concentrator accessory. The air inlet 104 is substantially annular in form and is positioned on the accessory 100 such that when the accessory 100 is attached to the main unit 12, the air inlet 104 of the accessory overlies and is in fluid communication with the air outlet 42 of the main unit 12. The air outlet 106 is generally elliptical in cross-sectional shape and is located at the end of the housing 102 opposite the air inlet 104.

[0072] The passage 108 is located inside the housing 102 and extends between the air inlet 104 and the air outlet 106. The obturator 110 is located inside the passage 108 downstream of the air inlet 104. The obturator 110 includes a connecting portion 116, two arms 118, an annular outer portion 120 and a blocking member 122.

[0073] The connecting portion 116 is annular in form and is shaped and dimensioned to engage with the connecting mechanism of the second shaft portion 54. The connecting portion 116 is substantially concentric with the central longitudinal axis of the passage 66. Two arms 118 are evenly spaced around the circumference of the connecting portion 116 and extend radially between the connecting portion 116 and the annular outer portion 120. The blocking member 122 is substantially solid in form and fills the space between the two arms 118, the connecting portion 116 and the annular outer portion 118 on one side of the passage 108.

[0074] The flow divider 112 is located downstream of the obturator 110 in the channel 108. The flow divider 112 comprises two ribs 124 which are evenly spaced around the channel 108 and divide the channel 108 into two sub-channels 126. The spacing between the ribs 124 corresponds substantially to the circumferential extent of the blocking member 122.

[0075] The recombination surface 114 is located downstream of the flow divider 112 and is located partly in the passage 108 and partly in the air outlet 106. The recombination surface 114 comprises an outer surface of a tubular member disposed substantially in the center of the passage 108.

[0076] Similar to the embodiment of the attachment 14 described above with respect to the first embodiment of the hair care appliance 10, Figures 7 and 8 The alternative embodiment of the accessory 100 receives airflow from the main unit 12 when in use. The drive motor 30 drives the obstruction piece 110 in the channel 108 to move, and the flow divider 112 divides the airflow downstream of the obstruction piece into two sub-channels 126. The recombining surface 114 recombines the airflow from the two sub-channels 126 at the air outlet 106, and due to the rotation of the obstruction piece 110, the airflow is guided in different directions according to the relative strength of the airflow through the two sub-channels 126.

[0077] However, here, since there are only two sub-channels 126, no rotational or swirling airflow is generated at the air outlet 106, but rather the airflow oscillates between the first and second sides of the tubular member defining the recombination surface 114. This oscillating airflow can increase hair separation, which can reduce hair drying time.

[0078] Fig. 9 and Fig.10 A further alternative embodiment of an accessory 150 for use with the main unit 12 of the first embodiment 10 of the hair care appliance is schematically shown.

[0079] The attachment 150 includes an inlet portion 152 , a movable occluder 154 , a flow divider 156 , first and second conduits 158 , 160 , first and second outlet portions 162 , 164 , and first and second recombining surfaces 166 , 168 .

[0080] The inlet portion 152 is generally tubular in form and at least partially defines a passage 170. The movable occluder 154 includes first and second triangular blocking members 172 and 174 that are opposed and is located within the passage 170. The movable occluder 154 is driven in a manner similar to that described above.

[0081] The flow divider 156 is located downstream of the movable occluder 154 in the passage 170 and includes eight evenly spaced ribs. Each rib of the flow divider 156 also extends toward the first outlet portion 162 and the second outlet portion 164 in one of the corresponding first and second conduits 158, 160. Here, the four ribs of the flow divider 156 are located in the first and second conduits 158, 160, respectively. The ribs are twisted along the length of the first and second conduits 158, 160 to form four sub-channels in the first and second conduits 158, 160.

[0082] The first conduit 158 ​​and the second conduit 160 are hollow in form and extend between the inlet portion 152 and the respective first outlet portion 162 and the second outlet portion 164. The first outlet portion 162 and the second outlet portion 164 have a spherical cap form and are hollow. The first recombination surface 166 and the second recombination surface 168 are defined by spherical members located within the respective first outlet portion 162 and the second outlet portion 164.

[0083] Similar to the embodiment of the attachment 14 described above with respect to the first embodiment of the hair care appliance 10, Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The alternative embodiment of the accessory 150 receives airflow from the main unit 12 when in use. The drive motor 30 drives the occluding member 154 to move within the channel 170, and the flow divider 156 divides the airflow downstream of the occluding member 154 into sub-channels. The first recombination surface 166 and the second recombination surface 168 recombine the airflows of the sub-channels within the first duct 158 ​​and the second duct 160 at the first outlet portion 162 and the second outlet portion 164, and due to the rotation of the occluding member 154, the airflow is directed in different directions according to the relative strength of the airflows through the sub-channels.

[0084] Taking into account the number of sub-channels, a rotating or swirling airflow is generated at each outlet portion 162, 164. This rotating airflow can increase hair separation, which can lead to reduced hair drying time.

[0085] Fig.11 A second embodiment of a hair care appliance 200 is schematically shown, wherein the same reference numerals are used for the sake of clarity.

[0086] The hair care appliance 200 comprises a main unit 202 and an attachment 204. The main unit 202 is substantially identical to the main unit 12 of the first embodiment 10 of the hair care appliance described above, except for the form and position of the drive shaft 206. Here, the drive shaft 206 extends within the housing of the head portion 20 in a direction parallel to but spaced from the aperture 38. The drive shaft 206 is a single-part drive shaft coupled to the output of the drive motor 30, with a gear 208 located at the end of the drive shaft 206.

[0087] The attachment 204 is substantially identical to the attachment 14 of the first embodiment 10 of the hair care appliance described above, except for the form of the occluder 210. The occluder 210 comprises an annular toothed ring 212, and a blocking member 214 fixedly attached to the annular toothed ring 212.

[0088] In use, the drive shaft 206 drives the annular gear ring 212 to move within the channel 66, thereby causing the blocking member 214 to rotate. Such an offset drive mechanism can remove the drive shaft from the central position of the channel 66.

[0089] Fig.13 A third embodiment of a hair care appliance 400 is schematically shown, wherein the same reference numerals are used for the sake of clarity.

[0090] The hair care appliance 400 includes a main unit 402 and an accessory 404 .

[0091] The main unit 402 and the accessory 404 are substantially identical to the main unit 12 and the accessory 14 of the first embodiment 10 of the hair care appliance described above, except that the drive motor 406 and the drive shaft 408 are located within the accessory 404. This allows the accessory to be retrofitted to an existing main unit while still providing the functionality discussed previously herein. The drive motor 406 may be powered by an electrical connection to the main unit 402, or via a self-contained power source within the accessory 404 itself.

[0092] Fig.14 A fourth embodiment of a hair care appliance 500 is schematically shown, wherein the same reference numerals are used for the sake of clarity.

[0093] The hair care appliance 500 includes a main unit 502 and an accessory 504 .

[0094] The main unit 502 and the accessory 504 are substantially the same as the main unit 12 and the accessory 14 of the first embodiment 10 of the hair care appliance described above, except that there is no drive motor and drive shaft, and instead the occluder 506 is driven by the airflow passing through the hair care appliance 500. It should be understood here that the diverter 70 and the recombining surface can play a practical role regardless of whether the occluder is actively driven to rotate or passively driven to rotate. The occluder 506 includes an impeller-like blade 508, which, when driven by the airflow, causes the occluder 506 to rotate and also acts as a blocking member. In some embodiments, a speed regulator can be used with the impeller-like blade 508 to provide a friction reaction force to slow the rotation of the occluder 506 to a desired degree. Because the occluder 506, the diverter 70 and the recombining surface 72 are all located in the accessory 504, the accessory 504 can be retrofitted to the main unit of an existing hair care appliance.

[0095] Fig.15 An alternative occluder 510 for use with a fifth embodiment of a hair care appliance 500 is schematically shown. The occluder 510 comprises an upstream portion 512 and a downstream portion 514. The upstream portion 512 comprises a first annular gear ring 516 and impeller blades 518. The downstream portion 514 comprises a second annular gear ring 520 and a blocking member 522 fixed to the second annular gear ring 520. The upstream portion 512 and the downstream portion 514 are connected by a suitable reduction gear (not shown) and a shaft 524. In this way, the upstream portion 512 can be driven by the air flow, while the downstream portion 514 and therefore the blocking member 522 are driven at a lower rotational speed. This can enable the occluder 510 to contribute to the generation of a rotating or rotating air flow at the air outlet 46 of the accessory 504.

[0096] FIG. 16 schematically shows a fifth embodiment of a hair care appliance 600 , wherein the same reference numerals are used for the sake of clarity.

[0097] The hair care appliance 600 includes a main unit 602 , a drive motor 604 , an occluder 606 , a diverter 608 , and an air outlet 610 .

[0098] The drive motor 604 and the occluder 606 are located in the handle portion 612 of the main unit 602, and the diverter 608 is located in the head portion 614 of the main unit 602. The diverter 608 includes an upper rib 616 and a lower rib 618 located in the head portion 614, which divides the head portion into a left flow path and a right flow path. The shape of the head portion 614 converges at the air outlet 610 so that the airflow from the left and right flow paths is recombined downstream of the air outlet 610 when in use. The occluder 606 can selectively block one of the left flow path and the right flow path, which can provide an oscillating airflow from left to right and from right to left when in use.

[0099] In each of the above embodiments, rotation of the occluder within the hair care appliance passageway, along with the use of a diverter and recombination of the airflow downstream of the diverter, can be utilized to provide airflow in a desired direction and with a desired oscillating or rotating characteristic.

[0100] While specific examples and embodiments have been described thus far, it should be understood that these are illustrative only and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A hair care device comprising: Air inlet; Air outlet; a passage located between the air inlet and the air outlet; an air flow generator for generating an air flow from the air inlet through the passage to the air outlet; a flow splitter configured to split the airflow through the passage into a first airflow portion and a second airflow portion; as well as an obturator located in the passage upstream of the air outlet, the obturator being movable between a first position in the passage and a second position in the passage different from the first position in the passage; Wherein the hair care appliance is configured to cause recombination of the first airflow portion and the second airflow portion downstream of the occlusion member.

2. The hair care appliance of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the passageway located downstream of the occlusion member and between the flow diverter and the air outlet is shaped to cause the first and second airflow portions located downstream of the occlusion member to recombine.

3. The hair care appliance of claim 2, wherein the portion of the passageway converges towards the air outlet.

4. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair care appliance comprises a recombination surface located in the channel downstream of the occlusion member, the recombination surface being positioned to cause recombination of the first and second airflow portions located downstream of the occlusion member.

5. The hair care appliance of claim 4, wherein the recombining surface comprises a substantially convex surface.

6. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow diverter is a passive flow diverter.

7. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow splitter is configured to split the airflow into no more than the first and second portions.

8. The hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the occluding member is movable between the first and second positions and a third position different from the first and second positions within the passage, and the flow splitter is configured to divide the airflow through the passage into a first airflow portion, a second airflow portion, and a third airflow portion.

9. A hair care appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the occluder is rotatable within the passageway.

10. The hair care appliance of claim 9, wherein the occluder is rotatable within the passageway at a rate of no greater than 600 rpm.

11. A hair care appliance according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the occluding member is rotatable about a central axis of the passage.

12. A hair care appliance according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the rate of movement of the occluding member is selectable by a user of the hair care appliance.

13. A hair care appliance according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the hair care appliance is operable in a plurality of operating modes and the rate of movement of the occluding member is dependent upon the operating mode of the hair care appliance.

14. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair care appliance comprises a drive motor configured to drive movement of the occluding member within the passageway.

15. The hair care appliance of claim 14, wherein the drive motor is located away from a central axis of the passage.

16. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the occlusion member comprises a cross-sectional area which is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the passageway.

17. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair care appliance comprises a sensor for sensing an object external to the appliance, and a control module configured to determine a property of the object based on data output by the sensor, wherein Movement of the occluder within the passageway is based on determining a property of the object.

18. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair care appliance comprises a main unit and an accessory releasably attachable to the main unit, the accessory comprising the air outlet, the occluder and the diverter.

19. An accessory for a hair care appliance, the accessory comprising: an air inlet for receiving an air flow from a main unit of the hair care appliance; Air outlet; a passage located between the air inlet and the air outlet; a flow splitter configured to split the airflow through the passage into a first airflow portion and a second airflow portion; as well as an obturator located upstream of the air outlet in the passage, the obturator being movable between a first position in the passage and a second position in the passage different from the first position in the passage; and Wherein the hair care appliance is configured to cause recombination of the first airflow portion and the second airflow portion downstream of the occlusion member.

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